Current work:
Through the years of weaving the Community Development Learning Initiative network and intentional exploration of how Anti-Racism and Decolonization work is being done in community. Through learning what Anti-Racism and Decolonization work looks like in action and engaging in Storytelling for Change efforts CDLI has evolved our efforts.
People doing anti-racism work, people doing decolonizing work, people doing DEIAJ work in community also need community. The Anti-Racism and Decolonization Learning & Action Team is CDLI’s monthly offering hosting and holding space, cultivating community with those doing the work while encouraging further collective learning and action. See more by clicking on an upcoming meeting date below.
So, what's the purpose of the AR&D LAT? It's a space for individuals accountable to their communities, providing an opportunity to learn, engage in discussions, and collaboratively face challenges on the path of anti-racism and decolonization. Throughout our time together, we dive into resources, share ideas, discuss struggles, and celebrate successes. Would you like to know how the Anti-R & Decolonization LAT can support you in your efforts? And where you might be on your journey? Get in touch. Whether this is a one-on-one chat or email correspondence.. as this work is about building relations with one another!
Some interesting topics/discussions we’ve had that have developed into resources/broader community conversations:
Guest Speakers like Anti-Racism facilitator Thulasy Lettner
By joining us, you're signaling your willingness to be challenged. We encourage you to share your experiences with personal, professional, and systemic barriers faced by you or your community. But here's the deal – no pressure! We also invite you to just come, listen, and learn.
Be willing and open to being challenged between sessions this can expressed in various methods of engagement; observe, reflect, process or initiate action, as it relates to anti-racism organization and decolonization.
CDLI is currently leading the Creating Just Futures Initiative which has been developed out of the work of the Anti-Racism and Decolonization Learning & Action Team.
Previous and current Storytelling for Change and Resource sharing are stored in our Blog. Use the search feature of the website to pull together a list of posts related to a specific topic or visit the most recent posts below the upcoming community events.
Upcoming community events & workshops relating to anti-racism & DecolonizatioN
A bit of Where we have been:
Anti-Racism & Decolonization in Action: Stories from our neighbours
During the summer of 2020 the CDLI Team sought out to explore how we can create an environment of continuously implementing anti-racism and decolonization work with the wider community. What is within our responsibility as individuals and community members? How can we support people in maintaining accountability on their anti-racism and decolonization journey? To answer these questions, we interviewed community members about their work to dismantle white supremacy and decolonize.
Throughout the Fall we shared conversations with activists, social workers, community organizers, artists, business owners and students about their anti-racism and decolonization journeys - from people who have been on this journey for decades, to people who are newly exploring how to be anti-racist. Check out our blog & Instagram account for those stories!
A huge thank you to each and every person who was willing to speak with us and be showcased… to Noor, Lionel, and Evert for pulling this all together, to Alana-Dawn, Natalie, and Stanley and many others for your guidance, and to the volunteers with Immigrant Services Calgary who helped us make sure the interview transcripts were accurate for creating these posts!
If you’d like to get involved with CDLI’s Anti-Racism & Decolonization Learning and Action Team, please get in touch! Efforts like this are made possible when we work together to create the change we want to see!
Special Events:
On Saturday, November 7th, 2020 we convened some of the people who we interviewed for a Roundtable conversation on “the power of storytelling for anti-racism and decolonization efforts”! You can read about that event, and access the recording from the Roundtable here.
On Thursday, November 26th, 2020 we partnered with many great organizations to host an amazing panel of women who have been leading anti-racism and decolonization efforts in Calgary for many years. Find out more about HERstories in Anti-Racism and Decolonial Organizing here.
Anti-raCism & Decolonization resource database
Anti-Racism and Decolonization Resources
This database has been created by CDLI to host anti-racism and decolonization resources for all to access. Note, this is not a complete database of resources but is a valuable tool for engaging with anti-racism and decolonization work. To utilize the CDLI anti-racism and decolonization database select the link above. This link will direct you to Airtable, where you can select the drop down arrow “format” and select “filter” the specific format, for example, “Novels”. You can filter by multiple formats, for example you can search through “Novels” and “Videos”. You can use tag 1, 2 and 3 to further filter your search. The last column will have the link to suggested resource. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to our team at cdli@caryacalgary.ca.
